Hello, friends. It's a stormy morning in SWFL... lots of lightning, strong winds, and heavy rain. It woke me up before six, so I watched it blow through while sipping my coffee. There's another line of storms coming, but those should be a little less intense!
As we close in on the end of the month, my SIL has made good progress in preparing for her move. She'll be here with us for another week and a half before flying home to NY. It's also time to take a look at my April reading.
Finished last week//
If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook
A goodreads giveaway, this delightful family story opens with the most unusual funeral scene I've ever come across! Look for my review of later in the week.
Current reading//
Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court's Drive to the Right and Its Historic Consequences by Joan Biskupic
This fascinating book chronicles the last several years in the judicial branch of the US government, including significant cases, personalities, and behind-the scenes activities. There is a lot here to absorb so I've slowed my pace to around a chapter a day.
Books completed in April//
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver - 4.5 stars
- Chorus by Rebecca Kauffman - 5 stars
- If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook - 4 stars (review pending)
May reading possibilities//
- Nine Black Robes by Joan Biskupic (nonfiction - in progress)
- Künstlers in Paradise by Cathleen Schine (new fiction from library, up next)
- Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash (new historical fiction, on library hold)
- The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (new fiction, 5/2 release)
- The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration by Jake Bittle (nonfiction)
- All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley (memoir)
In the kitchen//
The only new recipe we tried this week was Honey-Hoisin Salmon from Katie Workman of The Mom 100. It's simple to mix up this flavorful marinade. I left it in the refrigerator for 2 hours before grilling and served it with a seaweed salad and rice. We'll use this one again!
From my photo folder//
My daughter sent a cute photo of the grandpup, Winnie the Whippet, and it occurred to me that I've never shared a photo of her here! Winnie is now 8 months old and growing quickly. They're taking her to obedience classes, but lately she seems to have developed some separation anxiety. Working through that is the top priority right now. Can't wait to see her when we're back in CT!
That's it for my week. How was yours? What have you been reading?
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.
Winnie is so cute!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd that salmon looks delicious. I hope you have better weather soon. :)
Erin - After those horrible storms, it turned out to be a beautiful afternoon yesterday! No rain predicted for this week wither.
DeleteWinnie is so cute! I'll be interested to read your thoughts on the Cat Shook book. Still immersed in The Latecomer, love this book and I will look for more by this author. I have a puzzle with a book theme I am enjoying and plan to read some of the books shown there.
ReplyDeleteTina - I've also read Sabbathday River and You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz, enjoyed them, but don't remember either well enough to say more. My sister read The Plot last year and recommends it, so I'll probably get to that soon.
DeleteWe haven't seen Winnie all winter, so it will be great to see her when we get back to CT. Hope she still remembers me! Have a great week.
Winnie is so cute. Looks like you have some good books coming up in May. Hope you enjoy them and have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yvonne. I always list more books than I'll probably read, and often get distracted by library holds or reviews from other bloggers... but it's a starting place!
DeleteOk. Dog photos are always appreciated and Winnie is wonderful! It makes me wish I had a dog again even though that is totally unrealistic for me rightnow.
ReplyDeleteHelen - We lost our greyhound almost three years ago and have not gotten another dog. I really miss having one, but know what you mean... it's unrealistic for us right now, too. Glad we get to see Winnie so often when we're in CT!
DeleteThat is one thing I will miss about Arkansas. The thunderstorms!!!! I've been in Florida during thunderstorms and they are spectacular as well. Probably even more so because of the Gulf and Atlantic.
ReplyDeleteAdding Nine Black Robes to my TBR. I don't really know anything about them!!!
Winnie is adorable and that honey-hoisin salmon sounds delicious!
Jinjer - Growing up in the snow belt, I'm more used to snowstorms and would take one over these violent thunderstorms any day! They scare me. Nine Black Robes is excellent so far. I've also read a couple of biographies by that author. She really knows her stuff!
DeleteIt sounds like a good week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cindy, it was!
DeleteI’m glad to see your rating for Barbara Kingsolver’s latest. Her books have always moved me, from The Poisonwood Bible to Flight Behavior. I can still remember both quite clearly, which is saying something! And, Winnie is Too Sweet!
ReplyDeleteBellezza - I've enjoyed many of Kingsolver's books, too! Looking over her titles, I see I've missed The Lacuna and added it to my list. So good to see you again!
DeleteI didn't hear the storm from inside the house so I was shocked to walk outside to go to work this morning. So much storming going on. By the time I clocked out at 11:07 it was a lot calmer, all that was left was a lot of wind.
ReplyDeleteWinnie is so cute!
Vicki - The storm left a big mess behind here, too. I was so surprised when it cleared up around lunchtime and turned out to be a beautiful day! Can't wait to see Winnie when we get back to CT.
DeleteLove the grandpup, so sweet! What's with all the storms there? Right now we have a heat week ahead, maybe even 80s, strange?! And how do we get Clarence Thomas off the court? Goodness gracious ... what a disaster. Enjoy your reading & week.
ReplyDeleteSusan - Winnie is just the sweetest, and she has many of the same mannerisms Zelda (our greyhound) had. I love having her around! Don't even get me started on Clarence Thomas, lol. Enjoy the 80s... weather has been just plain weird lately!
DeleteWe don’t get a lot of thunderstorms here in Vancouver, but on occasion we do. Beyond That, The Sea was a book I really enjoyed. I hope that you enjoy it too if you choose to read it. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteJodie - I'm glad to know you enjoyed Beyond That, the Sea! I heard it mentioned on a podcast last week and it sounded really good. I'm at the top of the library hold list now... fingers crossed it comes in and I can read it before we head north.
DeleteThat’s a great reading list! I hope you enjoy all t he books.
ReplyDeletebest… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Mea - Fingers crossed I get to them all!
DeleteBad weather isn't nice, but it means we can spend more time reading!
ReplyDeleteYou've had a wonderful April reading, and an interesting selection for May. So, happy reading! Sending you and Winnie the Whipet double hugs, she's so adorable! <3
Fanda - I was hoping to get Nine Black Robes read before the end of the month, but there just too much there to read it quickly! We haven't had a dog for several years sin our greyhound died, so it's a real treat for me to spend time with Winnie. Happy May!
DeleteBeautiful pics. More reading weather, I guess!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nas.
DeleteWe've actually been having oddly cool weather. I think things will heat up today though. I do love a good storm.
ReplyDeleteI plan to read Nine Black Robes when it arrives for me soon.
Winnie is an adorable grandpup.
Deb - Nine Black Robes is absolutely fascinating! I remember many of the cases and events she references, but it's even more impactful having it all in one book.
DeleteNine Black Robes sounds very intriguing to me. I'm currently reading Ezra Kline's, "Why We're Polarized." I guess we're all trying to figure out how we got to where we are.
ReplyDeleteLisa - I have Kline's book on my list and hope to read it sometime this year. You are so right... we are all trying to figure out how we got here!
DeleteI printed out the recipe for the salmon. My brother and I eat a lot of it. Nine Black Robes sounds intriguing but I can see why it might be a slow read. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I'm always trying to come up with different recipes for salmon... we eat it regularly, too. This was the first time I've used hoisin sauce with salmon and it turned out to be a good combination.
DeleteThe recipes you post always look and sound so good! Makes me wish I was a better cook.
ReplyDeleteAngela - Ha ha! Happy May :)
DeleteI do love a storm when I'm safe inside but I'm imagine it's a bit more stressful as you're still trying to recover from hurricane damage. Winnie is absolutely adorable! Have a wonderful week and a happy May!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I feel like everyone here is a little raw after the hurricane... so glad we were not on the island then! Winnie is the sweetest pup. Can't wait to see her later this month. Happy May!
DeleteNine Black Robes would be interesting with all the behind the scenes goings on. That stormy weather is not good especially when it brings tornadoes.
ReplyDeleteKathryn - Nine Black Robes is fascinating, but dense. We're just hearing about the tornadoes today from yesterday's storm... so scary!
DeleteKatie W. has some very appealing recipes on her site (I bookmarked this too but haven't tried it -- will move it up on my list now!)
ReplyDeleteAudrey - She really does! I get her emails and have borrowed her cookbook from the library multiple times... I should probably just buy a copy!
DeleteWhat a beautiful sunset. Hope you stay safe from any damages with the storms! Cute grand-pup! Have a lovely week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachel.
DeleteWinnie the Whippet is a cutie!
ReplyDeleteI've got Demon Copperhead on my hold list at the library, but it will probably be a while before I get it.
reese - Demon Copperhead is a long book, but it reads pretty quickly. Hope you like it!
DeleteWhat a cute puppy! I'm glad you liked Demon Copperhead. I thought about reading it, but I don't have the attention span for a book that long right now.
ReplyDeleteAj - Thanks, Winnie is a Sweetie! As for Demon Copperhead, long books can be tough, but this one actually reads pretty quickly.
DeleteI hope the storms are long gone and that you can now enjoy some beautiful spring weather. We had a lot of thunder the other morning, which worried some of my friends since they're not used to it. The ground shook for a long time and that always makes people nervous around here--the BIG earthquake is not something any of us want to experience in our lifetimes!
ReplyDeleteI'm eager to read all three of your April reads, especially Chorus!
We eat a lot of salmon (as a matter of fact, we had it last night), so I'll have to try that recipe. I'm getting tired of the rub that I use ALL the time (brown sugar, dill and Kosher salt).
Winnie is adorable. What a great expression on her face in that photo!
Have a great week, and if I don't chat with you before then, Happy Mother's Day.
Thanks, Les. The storms are long gone and we ended up with a beautiful week, but rainy season is right around the corner. I'm surprised Chorus didn't get more publicity... don't think I've ever enjoyed an under-the-radar book so much! Brown sugar with dill and kosher salt sound like a nice combination for a salmon rub. Think we'll give that a try next time - yum!
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